From a fly fishing perspective, I was a bit concerned about moving back to Montana after five years living in Maine. Most anglers associate fly fishing with trout, so this idea may seem insane. But the variety of freshwater and saltwater fly fishing in New England took my fly fishing to the next level and I loved it. But, now that my first season back in Montana is over, I realized I have enjoyed some great fly fishing variety, Montana style. For the foreseeable future this chapter of my fly fishing life will be titled “Trout” and Montana arguably offers some of the finest trout fishing in the world. There is amazing variety in the kind of water available to fish. From high alpine lakes in unbelievable settings, to fertile valley bottom stillwaters loaded with food and huge trout, to large, deep glacial lakes. The rivers range from prolific tailwaters with blanket hatches and thousands of fish per mile, to classic freestone streams typified by riffles, runs, and deep emerald pools, to small streams and glassy spring creeks. And there is incredible variety in the size and species of trout. There are small streams loaded with 6” native cutthroat and larger rivers and lakes with trout in the 10 lb class. This summer alone I caught cutthroat, rainbow, brown, brook, bull, lake trout, and whitefish. This list doesn’t even cover all of the salmonids available in the state. And the hatches, the variety in hatches are enough to drive a person crazy. One of my best days this year found me deep in the mountains fishing some of the most beautiful water I have ever seen. The only fish in this water are true Montana natives; whitefish, cutthroat, and bull trout. The small to medium sized cutts were eagerly hitting a well presented dry. The bigger cutts seemed to like a large stonefly nymph fished along the bottom. On one particular drift, I dropped my nymph at the head of a run and midway through, it stopped dead. I set the hook on what I initially thought was a solid cutt only to see a monster role in the deep. After a long down stream battle I finally landed the most stunning fish I have laid eyes on. A quick photo and release left me in awe. Being the 4th largest state in the country, it is easy to see how there can be this much variety. Fortunately I’m relatively close to most of the good fishing. In less than a two hour drive I have some incredible fishing, if I travel up to four hours I can hit most of the big name water and have the bonus of pacific steelhead in Idaho, there are even more famous waters pushing the six hour mark. Needless to say, I’m tying tons of trout flies this winter and looking forward to exploring more amazing waters this spring.
Wow that is a great Bull trout. It’s very encouraging to see the bull population bounce back in Montana like that. Especially when you see pics of fish like this one. Congrats and enjoy those home waters.
Keith,
Stunning fish and great fish tale. I have never fished in Montana, but I can’t wait till the day that I get a chance to. Now, I am glad that I showed you some of my striper, albie, steelhead spots when I first met you and when you first moved to Maine. Cuz, when I come out to fly fish in Montana with you … you are bringing me to THAT spot. Seriously dude, throughout the years .. whether in Maine, Canada or wherever .. you always seem to catch some amazing fish with the fly rod. I was amazed when you came to Maine and dialed into the fresh and saltwater fishery within a years time. I remember you would get in your car and drive, solo, and just fish whereever the day and the roads would take you. Now, your doing the same in Montana and god only knows where else. I guess working for the Department Of Forestry or whatever has it’s perks .. and, that beautiful trout you are holding .. is definately one of them. Well done. See you SOON. That is an amazing bull trout. The look very similar to brook trout, with those colored fins etc.?? what is there deal? Is it common for them to get that big? are the lake run fish? I would like to know more, for curiousity sake, as I don’t know much at all .. if anything .. about that species of trout. Great to hear from you .. thought we’d lost ya since you’d left maine .. guess not.
Kieth that is a sick bully. I didn’t know that they had them like that in MT.
WOW! what a great fish! glad to see Montana works for you. The last time I was out there it worked for me, again great fish.
WOW! Great fish!! Thanks for sharing.
What a beauty! Love the colors…almost looks like a dolly varden??
Regardless it seems Montana is treating you well.
Congrats on a sweet fish!!!
Wow! what a sweet fish! i would really love to catch one of those some day! i only thought that canada had bull trout….guess not. do other states besides montana also have bull trout like wyoming and idaho? great fish tale, and killer fish!
What a wicked fish, very cool. Glad to see you have re-aclimated to MT again. Tangled with them in ID a few years back..it is no wonder they get so large, they are the ultimate predator. Nice job Keith.
JUST FYI to everyone reading this post… It’s illegal to target Bull Trout in the state of Montana unless specifically licensed to do so and then only on a select number of drainages in the northwestern part of the state. Check with FWP for specific area regulations. Just don’t go out looking for them and get caught, you will be fined and ticketed… Nice fish though
so .. it’s hard to understand what you are saying here? this fish of keith’s is illegal?
Hey Jeremy, He/she is right, depending on where you are will determine whether or not it is legal to target bull trout. In some waters it is legal, you just need to get the free permit. In other waters it is not legal to TARGET them. That does not mean that you can control what bites your fly and the fish and game know this. So, if you are fishing water that has bull trout and it is not a stream open to fishing under the permit and you hook a bull trout, you must release the fish unharmed immediately. Make sense…?
Got it .. actually, before you responded .. went to the DFW and found the page on the Montana Bull Trout .. very interesting .. some notable points.
1. endangered
2. they WANT people fishing for them (on select rivers) in order to enhance and promote public knowledge ..
3. the concept of “can’t target” on certain rivers is interesting .. but makes sense
4. i also like how, probably in relation to #2, they have a section that says “PHOTOGRAPHING BULL TROUT” .. and they recognize that in order to effectively “raise public awareness” … this is part of the alure .. fisherman want to photograph their fish .. so rather than saying “no photographing of fish” they say “it IS legal to phtograph your trophy catch (as most people would want to do) and they provide tips on proper ways to do so .. and proper release tactics …..
And this goes hand in hand with what my theory has always been … “it is possible to try to protect something so much so .. that it is virtually off limits to people. then, what happens is the general public forgets about it … and when people forget, not enough people care and that is really the death of anything .. out of sight out of mind.” … so, whether it be the bull trout or the bald eagle … if it’s protected to such a degree that the general public can’t somehow “interact” with it … and the only people who do “interact” with it is some special group of peopel or something … well then, it’s a simple matter of not enough people even know what the heck the “thing” is anymore, hence nobody but a couple people really care and that is a definate and quick path to extinction …
so — i believe that like all else, balance, is the key to preserving anything .. preserve something too much and the general public eventually forgets why they ever cared about it or why they even should and the “thing” is definately going extinct …. because once it’s extinct in peoples minds, it ain’t gonna be long before it is extinct in the real sense of the word … so, montana’s approach to the bull trout .. much like maine’s approach to the atlantic salmon .. seems like a logical and balanced approach … here is the link to the montana gov’t web page .. Nice bull trout keith. I’d love to catch (and release) one like that some day … and do my part to help preserve the species 🙂 …
fwp.mt.gov/content/getItem.aspx?id=26321
ps… i just recognized a very interesting thing … notice who’s name all of this discussion falls under … “Austin” .. interesting enough, probably one of, if not thee youngest fly fisherman on this site, if nothing else .. there is one thing i know for certain … i don’t see many, if any .. young kids like austin on the waters .. mostly, it’s a bunch of old dudes knocking on deaths door … so, one thing is for certain …. the old dudes will go extinct. and, when they do … who will care about the “bull trout” or the “atlantic salmon” .. certainly not a bunch of internet gamers (like the majority austins generation) .. why would they possibly care what happens to a stinky old fish .. after all, they don’t even like to go outside if they don’t have too .. they have everything they need online …
So, my point is this … Austin said, “i’d love to CATCH one of those bull trout someday” .. if he were not allowed to … it is very possible that all of the current efforts to save the “bull trout” or the “atlantic salmon” would be in vein …
jeremy, thanks for the complements! it is amazing how much smaller the world is getting each day! things seem to be disappering just way to fast! i just recently heard that the major reason why they are putting the 2008 summer olympics in china this year is to alert people of the major pollution problems.
i really don’t believe how fast things are being melted, polluted, endangered, etc in todays world. i don’t want to see things dissapear, wheather its the polar ice caps or the bull trout! and if i can do anything to make it so that these natural resources stay around for future generations and even me, i’m all for it!
Good point(s) Jeremy. Before you even said it, I was thinking abut Atlantic Salmon in ME too. The champions for anything, are those who have an interest in the thing they are fighting for. Anglers obviously have an interest in fish. When you and Austin are ready to chase some MT trout, you know where to find me!
Awesome fish and a beautiful pool of water in the shot above the fish. Man I am a fool my father offered me an all expense paid trip out to Montana a couple years back for fly fishing and I did not go…..very dumb on part. Great tale good luck when everything thaws this Spring.
Charles
sounds to me than, like we gotta make a trip to montana then and do our part to save the world!!! by catching a big bull trout! .. actually, make that 2 .. 🙂 … you in?
oh don’t worry … we WILL find you … 🙂 .. ps. when you come back east finish what you started with those 4 albies that that got the best of you on the WW … you can settle the score on the bow of my boat… i know how much you wanted one of those fish (believe me) .. they have definately left many of fly fisherman heartbroken and scratching there heads .. in a way though, it’s tougher for you .. cuz now you live in montana … and unless i am mistaken, i don’t think montana is known for it’s tuna fly fishing opportunities …. so, if you come back east this aug/sept/oct … definately let me know, and we’ll get it done … i can only imagine how many times you have played those 4 fish out in your head thinking, “man, if i just did this or that .. ” .. but, believe me, you ain’t the only one .. that’s why they call those fish “funny fish” .. NOT because of the fish, but because of the EFFECT they have on fly fisherman …. they are infamous for driving fly fisherman mad …
in all seriousness … really? that is very interesting about the olympics being held in china for that reason. i do know that water pollution over there is a major issue to say the least … but, interesting to hear that olympics are being held there as part of a strategy to build awareness to the water issue … very interesting, thanks for pointing that out … and speaks nicely to and supports the point that i was trying to make regarding bull trout, atlantic salmon and other protected species of fish and wildlife etc.. and all “protected” things for that matter … part of the solution resides in .. awareness .. thanks austin.
DUDE! that’s great looking fish.
Nothing Prettier IMO than a Big colored up Dolly, Artic Char or Bull trout which are all VERY closely related.
So Keith…let’s say you had a family of four (kids 3 and 5) based in the New England area and you wanted to move out to Montana…what town offers the best access to all of that great fishing yet offers the family some schooling and a town to do stuff….
thx!
SICK fish. what were the stats on that guy? almost looks like a huge brookie or char.
Man its nice to hear about the rivers and streams back home in the northwest! I’ve been cooped up out here in okinawa japan just counting down the days till I get back to fly fishing again! Thanks for the story!
Dude, great fish… you are holding one of the last of it’s kind in the the lower 48. Cherish that moment, take your youth and put it to work to protect such for the future.
What a fish,What a fish…